South West innovation takes centre stage at London Showcase
Leading investors and entrepreneurs gathered at Microsoft's London offices on 22 May to discover the South West’s most promising startups.
The South West's thriving tech ecosystem was showcased to London's investment community at a prestigious event by Tech South West, bringing together 50 investors, entrepreneurs and tech leaders to highlight the region's cutting-edge innovation.
The event made clear that the region is rapidly emerging as a major force in UK tech, moving beyond its reputation as the country's ‘best-kept secret’ for innovation.
The event featured keynote remarks from Steve Race MP, member of the Science, Innovation & Technology Committee, alongside panel discussions on market conditions and extensive networking opportunities.
Twelve companies took to the stage during the PitchUp session, delivering compelling presentations to a room packed with potential investors. The startups represented the cutting edge of South West innovation, spanning AI and deeptech to sustainable solutions.
Local founders in the room included Additive.earth, Blue Abyss, Latent Drive, Drift Energy, Circular11, FerryX, Eden Geothermal, CirculAIRity, Wase, FlouretiQ, AnyWaste.com, and Dimension Biotechnologies.
Steve Race MP said: "“The South West Innovation Showcase was a fantastic opportunity to bring some of the most promising start-ups from across the region together with heavyweight and national investors. I was delighted to say a few words about how the South West is home to a thriving start-up and scale-up economy because we have all the right ingredients - the foundational institutions that attract and retain talent, a growing ecosystem of organisations that are bringing clusters together, and a track record of success.
“Now is the time for investors to double down on our innovation, and help to create the businesses of the future right here. Thanks to Tech South West and Microsoft, facilitated through the partnership with Met Office, for showing confidence in our innovation and for hosting this showcase."
Ben Cooper, Funding & Support Director at Tech South West, said: "The showcase captured the incredible depth and quality of innovation happening across our region. Seeing twelve outstanding startups pitch to such a high-calibre audience of London-based investors shows that the South West has truly arrived as a major player in the UK's tech landscape. The energy and enthusiasm in the room was palpable – these are exactly the kind of connections and conversations that will fuel the next wave of growth for our tech ecosystem. We're committed to continuing to bridge that gap between our exceptional founders, and the investment community they need to scale."
Attendees at the showcase received copies of Tech South West's newly released Q1 South West Investment Report, a comprehensive analysis of funding activity across the region's tech sector. The report highlights key trends and sector performance, offering valuable insights for both investors and entrepreneurs looking to understand the current landscape, and opportunities within the South West's growing tech ecosystem.
The event was supported by Tech South West's Funding & Finance Partners Howden, British Business Bank, RWK Goodman, Angel Investors Bristol, Kene, and Innovate UK.
The Q1 2025 South West Investment Briefing Report is available here: https://www.techsouthwest.co.uk/reports/
